The first four and the last three form severally two groups, which are, respectively, intimately connected together. The former are connected by the formula, " another parable ;" the latter, by the formula, "Again the kingdom of heaven is like" And since the seventh refers more than any of the others to the end of the world, which the first does not refer to at all, but applies the prophecy of Isaiah to the people at the time of our Lord's teaching, — these seven parables have a most recondite meaning (see ver. 35), applying especially to distinct periods of the Church's history and condition, besides the common and universal principles which they teach concerning the course and administration of the kingdom of heaven ; and this in such a manner, that each begins successively to be fulfilled after that which preceded it, though no preceding one concludes before the beginning of that which follows. The first and second, and only these two, were explained to the apostles. In the first, before the explanation — in the second, after it — occurs the formula, " Pie that hath ears to hear, let him hear. The first, indeed, was fulfilled, as we have already observed, in the first age — namely, that of our Lord's ministry ; the second, in that of His apostles, and thenceforward, for then men began to sleep (see ver. 25) ; the third and fourth denote the propaga tion of the kingdom of God among princes and the whole human race ; the fifth describes the darker condition of the Church ; the sixth, the state of the kingdom of God \vhen esteemed above all things ; the seventh, the condition of the Church in the last days, greatly mixed. It may be asked, whether these seven parables extend through the whole period of the New Testament dispensation in such a manner that the three latter begin from the goal of the four former ; or whether those four extend from the beginning to the end, and also these three ? On the settlement of these questions depends a more accurate distribution, which I leave to be decided by the wise, [merely subjoining the following sketch] : —
of the tares for the disciples, who begged Him to do so, ver. 36 ; with which comp. Mark iv. 34. After the setting forth of these parables, of which several are derived from the tillage of land, within the lapse of a few days the barley harvest began. In like manner the parable of the net (ver. 47) cast into the sea, was put forth close by the sea. — Harm., p. 322.